Adjustable instep-arch support.



W. M. SCHOLL. ADJUSTABLE INSTEP ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APR-25, 1914.

Pa'fented Sept. 12,1916.

. 4 l p? wa /Z5607; 7/7. 4 [Z1 WILLIAM M. SCI-IOLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE INSTEP-ARCH SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial No. 834,439.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. SOHOLL, a citizen of' the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Instep- Arch Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in instep arch supports and has for one of its salient objects to provide an arch support adjustable as to height of the portion thereof that a tfords bearing to the highest-arched plantar surface, below the general region of the scaphoid bone.

A special object of my invention is to provide a construction which is simple, easily inanufacturwl, and readily adjustable, and which, under any adjustment, affords a strong, but somewhat resilient support to the foot.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is an inverted plan view; Fig. 2 is a side clevation, from the inside edge. of the support, and Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my invention 1 provide a metallic-base plate 10, an adjustable arch plate ll. and. usually, a leather cover piece 12 overlying lic structure. The base. plate 10 is preferably shaped to extend from a bearing surface beneath the heel of the wearers foot, as at 14, to a bearing surface/15 which, in use, will lie somewhat in rear of. the meta tarso-phalangeal articulations. In width, I prefer that the base plate'shall afford relatively wide front and rear bea ing portions, the rear bearing portion 14 being preferably adapted comfortably to receive the heel of the wearer and its forward bearing portion being 'n-cferably nearly as wide as the contiguous part of the foot. Longitudinally and laterally the base plate is suitably arched, so that it is higher along its inside edge than its outside edge, and so that it is most elevated at the portion thereof that underlies the shank of the foot. When in position in the shoe the base plate preferably rises somewhat above the shank of the shoe and at its ends rests on the heel seat and sole of the shoe. bpidging above the shank.

The arch plate 11 is preferably shorter than the base plate, and is shaped, in genand secured to the metal- "plate between the two eral, for approximate plantar surface of the terminating at conformity to {the shank of the foot, its rear end in advance of the heel receiving portion 14 of the base-plate and at its front end lying somewhat in rear of the front bearing surface 15 of the main plate. The longitudinal curvature of the arch plate is variable by adjustment, and transversely the arch plate is preferably curved to :1 highest point adjacent its inner edge. but without any such Hare. to lie along the side of the foot. as would give the plate too-great stiffness or resistance to curvature for increasing its height at the center of the arch. The inner edge of the plate. as at 16 preferably extends ctmsiderably inward from the inner edge of tlumain plate. its outer edge 17 preferably ovc; iies the body portion of the plate 10, so as to receive support therefrom.

The cover plate 12. as is usual in this class of devices. is preferably shaped snugly to inter-fit in the heel of the shoe. to extend over the shank thereof to about the ball of the foot, and, at its inner edge. to lie smoothly along the inner side of the shoe adjacent the shank of the foot. is edges. at appropriate points, are shived. as usual. The base plate and arch plate are pivotally connected near the inner edge of the base plate at one end and adjacent one end of the arch plate. in the specific construction shown 20 indicates a .pivot, in the form of a rivet, taking through the base plate, arch plate and cover piece. securing the three together. On this pivot the arch plate may be movcdwith respect to the base plate. One end of the arch plate being thus fixed. as to longitudinal position with (hc'basc plate. its other end may be secured to the base plate in various positions of longitudinal adjl'lstment. thereby to vary the height of the arch of the arch points of its connection with the base plate. In the specific structure shown the inner edge of the base plate is provided with a plurality of key hole slots 22. preferably three or more in number. extending sulnstantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the structure, and arranged with their heads in longitudinal alincmcnt. substsmtially in line with rivet 20. The slots coiiperatc with a stud carried by the arch plate. Specifically the stud 23 is a rivet. connecting the cover piece ciently remote from the under surface'of the arch plate so that the shank of the rivet may be engaged in any one of the slots 22. In

this way, by simple and inexpensive means, I provide means for locking engagement between the otherwise free end of the arch plate and the base plate adapted to effect connection of these parts in various posi tions of adjustment.

In operation, it will be understood, the cover piece is rigidly secured'to the arch plate, but the arch plate and cover piece may be rotated with respect to the base plate, upon the pivot 20 as a center, to engage or disengage the stud 23 with a notch 22 of the base plate. The arch plate is given such curvature, by bowing it transversely, as will bring the stud into alinement with any selected one of the notches 22 and manifestly the effective height of the arch is thus varied. In all positions of adjustment the cover piece will properly coiiperate with the arch plate, and the arch plate, made substantially rigid in its engagement with the base plate, Will receive resilient support from the base plate, so that the structure as a whole is comfortable to the foot and promotes the ease of the wearer.

Facility for adjustment to different heights gives the device particular advantage in effecting a'cure of flatfoot or broken arch, as the maximum desired elevation of the arch may be gradually effected, so that at the outset undue and painful pressure is not placed upon 'the more-or-less-displaced bones.

While I have herein described in some detail one particular embodiment of my 1nvention for illustration and description of witnesses.

a satisfactory and practical embodiment thereof it will be understood by those skilled V in the art that numerous changes in the details of construction might be made with out departure from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an arch support, the combination of a transversely and longitudinally curved base plate, having'transverse slots near the front end thereof in its inner edge, a transversely and longitudinally 'curved arch plate overlying the base plate and having its inner edge projecting therebeyond to conform to the human instep arch, a pivotal connection between said plate near the rear end thereof and a single stud at the front end of the said arch plate adapted for engagement with any one of the said slots.

2. In an arch support, the combination of a transversely curved base plate having slots near the front end thereof in its inner edge,

a transversely curved arch plate overlying the base plate and having its inner edge portion pmjecting therebeyond and shaped to conform to the inner side of the human instep arch, a permanent pivotal connection between said plate near the rear'ends thereof and means carried near the front end of the arch plate for engagement with any one of said slots.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing WILLIAM M. SCHOLL. In the presence of GEO. T. MAY, Jr.,

MARY F. ALLEN.

copies ot this patent may be obtained ionflve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

" Washington, D. G. 

